Ex-envoy wants European AIPAC

May 21, 2007 9:00am

Israel’s former ambassador to the European Union wants to see an “AIPAC-like” lobby in Brussels and Strasbourg.In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Oded Eran said the diplomatic and political power of the American Jewish community has no equivalent in Europe, which makes it more difficult for Israeli ambassadors to operate there. On anti-Semitism in Europe, Eran said one should not try to deny its existence, “but one should also not proclaim that Europe is anti-Semitic.” The rise of terrorism in Europe and the Iranian threat have contributed to making Europe more balanced in its approach to the Middle East, he said. Israel is not doing enough to encourage this and does not regard the European Union as a growing international power, Eran said, despite American willingness to cooperate with Brussels much more than in the past.